Buying guide
Waterproof metal detectors
A waterproof detector is one whose maker rates the whole machine, control box included, as submersible. All seven below qualify: six are rated to 16 ft and the Deus II to 66 ft (20 m).
01
The picks
Seven detectors rated submersible as a whole, control box included.
1. XP Deus II
For wading deep or snorkeling: XP rates it IP68 to 66 ft (20 m). It runs from 4 to 45 kHz and has 12 factory programs.
Sold as a bundle: the listing adds an MI-6 pinpointer to the detector and its 9-inch FMF coil.
2. Minelab Equinox 900
For the surf line and inland sites with one machine. It is IP68 to 16 ft, with Multi-IQ, six single frequencies from 4 to 40 kHz and two Beach modes.
Sold as a bundle: the listing names an EQX 15 coil and a case with the detector.
3. Nokta Legend
A Nokta multi-frequency model with a spare battery in the box, useful on a long day at the beach. It is rated IP68 to 16 ft (5 m).
Sold as a bundle: the listing names the LG15 coil with the detector and its 12-inch coil.
4. Garrett Vortex VX9
The Vortex VX9 offers 5, 9, 13, 18 and 25 kHz with Multi-Salt, a Beach mode and Z-Lynk wireless audio built in. Its rating is 16 ft (5 m), with no IP code.
5. Minelab X-Terra Pro
One frequency at a time, with an 8 kHz setting for Beach and three for Park and Field. The whole detector is submersible to 16 ft.
Sold as a bundle: the listing names a case and a Pro-Find 35 pinpointer with the detector.
6. Nokta Simplex Lite
The lightest pick with a weight we can cite, 2.6 lb, tied with the Score. Nokta rates it IP68 to 16 ft and builds in a 2300 mAh lithium battery.
7. Nokta Score
Nokta's Score runs Multi, or single 15 kHz, and Nokta rates it for up to 12 h per charge. It weighs 2.6 lb and has Park, Field and Beach modes.
02
Side by side
The same facts for every pick, read on each maker's page. Open a model for its full spec sheet.
| Model | Technology | Frequencies | Waterproofing | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XP Deus II | Multi-frequency | 4-45 kHzAdjustable range | 66 ftDetector, IP68, 20 m | Not checked |
| Minelab Equinox 900 | Multi-frequencyMulti-IQ | 4-40 kHz4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40 kHz | 16 ftDetector, IP68, 5 m | 2.8 lb1.27 kg |
| Nokta Legend | Multi-frequency | 4-40 kHz4, 10, 15, 20, 40 kHz | 16 ftDetector, IP68, 5 m | 3 lb1.3 kg |
| Garrett Vortex VX9 | Multi-frequencyMD-MF | 5-25 kHz5, 9, 13, 18, 25 kHz | 16 ftDetector, 5 m | 3 lb (1.38 kg) in the comparison table2.9 lb in the page textGarrett publishes both. |
| Minelab X-Terra Pro | Single frequencyPRO-SWITCH | 5-15 kHz5, 8, 10, 15 kHz | 16 ftDetector, IP68, 5 m | 2.9 lb1.3 kg |
| Nokta Simplex Lite | Single frequency | 15 kHz | 16 ftDetector, IP68, 5 m | 2.6 lb1.2 kg |
| Nokta Score | Multi-frequency | 15 kHzMulti, or this single frequency | 16 ftDetector, IP68, 5 m | 2.6 lb1.2 kg |
Sources: XP (Oct. 16, 2026), Minelab (Oct. 16, 2026), Nokta (Oct. 17, 2026), Garrett (Oct. 16, 2026).
03
How to choose
Which part is rated
Read the rating for the whole detector, not the coil alone. The Gold Monster 1000 has a coil rated to 3.3 ft (1 m), and Minelab calls the detector itself splash and rainproof. That is fine in rain, not in the surf.
How deep you go
Match the rating to your water. Wet sand and wading need far less than diving. The Manticore and X-Terra Pro are rated IP68 to 16 ft. Diving needs a rating made for it: Nokta rates the PulseDive to 200 ft (60 m).
Salt water
If you hunt the ocean, look for a setting made for salt. Garrett lists Multi-Salt on the Vortex VX9, and Minelab a Surf & Seawater setting in the Manticore's Beach mode.
04
What to know before you buy
Some listing titles say "waterproof coil" or "submersible coil" where the maker's page gives no rating. Garrett's pages give none for the ACE 250 and ACE 300, so they are not on this list. Trust the maker's page over the title.
XP notes that the Deus II needs its supplied antenna when the coil is underwater. A rating covers the detector, not every accessory in the box. Nokta says the supplied wireless headphones are not waterproof on its Gold Kruzer, for example.
Rinse the detector in fresh water after a day in salt water or sand, then let it dry fully before you store it. Salt is the enemy. Check the seller named on each listing before you buy, and prefer the maker or a detecting dealer.
We do not promise a detection depth in water or on land. Before you hunt a beach, read our summary of beach rules.
05
Questions
Answered from the makers' pages, read Oct. 16, 2026.
Of these seven, the Deus II: XP rates it IP68 to 66 ft (20 m). For scuba, Nokta's PulseDive is rated to 200 ft (60 m).
Only if the maker also rates the control box for rain, as Minelab does for the Gold Monster 1000. To wade, pick a detector rated as a whole, like the Simplex Lite, IP68 to 16 ft.
The ratings here cover submersion. Some makers add a setting for salt: Garrett lists Multi-Salt on the Vortex VX9, and Minelab a Surf & Seawater setting on the Manticore.
06